Welcome Event(S)

Blessing Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

WELCOME EVENT(S)

TENTATIVE: NOVEMBER 19 AND/OR NOVEMBER 20, 2026TBD time and location. Attire:&nbsp;Resort Casual (sundresses, polos, sandals welcome) Join us for a casual welcome gathering to kick off the weekend! We’re so excited to have our favorite people all in one place and can’t wait to celebrate with you. Stop by for drinks, light bites, and good company.

BLESSING CEREMONY

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2026TBD time and location. Attire:&nbsp;Formal Beach Attire (light, airy fabrics are perfect). For women,&nbsp;flowy, long dresses with heels or nice sandals&nbsp;are recommended. For men, linen or lightweight suits paired with dress shoes are recommended. With joy and gratitude, we share that we will be legally and sacramentally united in a private Orthodox ceremony prior to our departure for Punta Cana. We now invite you to join us as we celebrate the traditional Orthodox blessing of our marriage!

RECEPTION

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2026TBD time and location. Attire:&nbsp;Formal Beach Attire (light, airy fabrics are perfect). For women,&nbsp;flowy, long dresses with heels or nice sandals&nbsp;are recommended. For men, linen or lightweight suits paired with dress shoes are recommended. After the blessing, we can’t wait to celebrate with you! Join us for an evening filled with delicious food, joyful toasts, Greek dancing, and plenty of fun as we continue the festivities together.

Schedule

We owe our love story to Savannah’s incredible sister, Floriana, whose matchmaking instincts were spot on. After Floriana casually mentioned this “boy” Savannah just&nbsp;had&nbsp;to talk to, a follow on social media sparked the connection—and Demetri didn’t hesitate to reach out.

THE BEGINNING

What began as a few messages quickly turned into late-night phone calls, FaceTime marathons, and endless conversations. After a few months of getting to know each other from afar, we decided it was time to officially meet and Demetri booked a flight. On December 8, 2023, Demetri flew to Chicago for the first time ever for our first in-person meeting. He stepped off the plane into the chaos of O’Hare, where Savannah and her puppy, Reese, were waiting in the car to welcome him. Things must have gone pretty well, because just two weeks later, he was back again.

THE FIRST FLIGHT

Photos from our FIRST weekend together!

On January 8th, during our second visit, we officially started dating. From then on, monthly—and sometimes twice-monthly—flights became our routine. Weekends were spent either in each other’s hometowns or exploring somewhere new, and each trip was something we couldn’t wait to begin and never wanted to end. Those flights carried us to Wilmington, North Carolina, where Savannah met the Brown family, and to Chicago and Franklin, Wisconsin, where Demetri met the Kafkas crew. Along the way, we grew to love not just each other, but also the families and hometowns that shaped us. Between home visits, we turned our long-distance relationship into a string of adventures—wandering through Orlando, Seattle, Raleigh, Madison, and Athens. Each destination added another chapter to our story, strengthening our connection. It wasn’t long before Demetri became an official dog dad to Reese!

FALLING IN LOVE

Photos from some of our favorite adventures!

Our favorite adventure yet took us overseas to Malta, where we found ourselves in the beautiful city of Valletta. Anyone who knows Demetri knows that keeping secrets isn’t exactly his strong suit—so Savannah had a feeling something important was coming, just not exactly how it would happen. On May 28, we stepped out of a cab and saw a traditional little Maltese boat waiting for us. As we cruised along the river, surrounded by the beauty of the city, Demetri asked the question—and Savannah said yes! Shortly after, Demetri graduated with his master's degree, accepted a great job in Chicago, and made the move north. Now, we’re so excited to start this next chapter of our lives—together.

THE PROPOSAL 

Photos from our beautiful proposal.See more under the "Photos" tab on the website!

Our Story

We will be staying at the luxurious Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa &amp; Casino. Staying at the resort is highly encouraged, as it will make for a smooth and convenient experience throughout the wedding festivities. The Lopesan Costa Bávaro is an all-inclusive resort, which means your stay includes meals, snacks, drinks (yes, cocktails too!), and many on-site activities and entertainment. More information on the hotel and its' amenities can be found under the "Things to Do" tab. We’re excited to be working with Paradise Weddings to coordinate all travel arrangements for our big day!&nbsp;To ensure a smooth experience and the best rates, all reservations must be made&nbsp;through our dedicated Paradise Weddings link. This will guarantee access to our secured group pricing and help keep all guest details organized. Follow along to the website to secure our special room rates today! Please use code: 1121 for booking!

Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino

Our dedicated travel coordinator, Vianney Castillo, is available to assist with any questions about flights, accommodations, or booking details. His phone number and email are listed below. Phone number: 877-737-0177 (option 2)guests@paradiseweddings.com Booking Deadline:The deadline to book your hotel reservation and submit your first and second deposits is June 22, 2026. Final payments are due by July 27, 2026.

Hotel 

Punta Cana International Airport

Flying In:The closest airport is&nbsp;Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). It is approximately 20 minutes from the hotel! This is the airport you'll want to fly into when booking your travel.

Transportation with Paradise

Getting to the Resort:Transportation to and from the resort&nbsp;can be added when you book&nbsp;through Paradise Weddings. If you prefer,&nbsp;Uber and/or taxis are also available&nbsp;in the area and are a convenient alternative for getting around.

Travel and Transportation

Please BOOK through the "Hotel" tab on our website to secure our specialized room rates! Lopesan Costa Bávaro is a luxurious 5 star all-inclusive resort located on the pristine Bávaro Beach in Punta Cana. Your stay includes access to seven pools (including an adults-only and a kid-friendly pool), a white-sand beach, top-tier dining at buffet and à la carte restaurants, 24-hour snacks and drinks, room service, daily entertainment, and access to a state-of-the-art gym and fitness classes. For families:&nbsp;Kids will love the dedicated children’s pool, playground, and supervised kids’ club with age-appropriate activities. There’s also a teen club with games and social spaces for older children. Included in your stay:All meals, snacks &amp; drinks (including alcohol)Room serviceAccess to pools, beach, gym &amp; entertainmentKids’ and teens’ clubsNon-motorized water sports (like kayaking or paddleboarding)Nightly shows and live music Extras (not included):Spa treatmentsMotorized water sportsExcursions &amp; tours off-siteCasino games Excursions available&nbsp;(for an additional cost) include: catamaran cruises, snorkeling trips, zip-lining adventures, buggy tours, visits to Saona Island, and more. These can be booked directly through the resort with the help of our travel coordinator, Sebastian.

Savannah + Demetri

Savannah + Demetri

Travel and Transportation

Punta Cana International Airport

Transportation with Paradise